Bachmann may have leaked classified information during GOP debate

Americans probably had no idea that six of Pakistan’s nuclear sites had come under jihadist attack. That is, until Republican presidential candidate spilled the beans on national television Tuesday.

During the CNN-hosted Republican presidential debate on national security, Bachmann, who serves on the House Intelligence Committee, revealed that 15 nuclear sites in Pakistan were vulnerable to attack, and attempts had already been made on six of them.

CNN moderator Wolf Blitzer asked the candidate if she agreed with Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s pledge that he would send no foreign aid to Pakistan.

“We have to recognize that 15 of the sites, nuclear sites, are available or are potentially penetrable by jihadist,” Bachmann explained. “Six attempts have already been made on nuclear sites. This is more than an existential threat.”

“At this point, I would continue that aid,” she added. “Pakistan is a nation that it’s kind of like, too nuclear to fail.”

A National Journal fact check found that the U.S. had never publicly admitted that 15 of Pakistan’s sites were vulnerable to attack, or that six of them had already been attacked.

“[H]er comments on Pakistan’s nuclear program represent either a news-making leak of previously unknown classified information or another in her recent series of seemingly-random, and highly inaccurate, public comments,” Yochi J. Dreazen wrote.

After all, the candidate also recently said that Hezbollah was working to create “missile sites” in Cuba — and there seems to be no truth to that.

About the Author

David Edwards has served as an editor at Raw Story since 2006. His work can also be found at Crooks & Liars, and he's also been published at The BRAD BLOG. He came to Raw Story after working as a network manager for the state of North Carolina and as as engineer developing enterprise resource planning software. Follow him on Twitter at @DavidEdwards.